20,047 research outputs found
Decoherence of Macroscopic Closed Systems within Newtonian Quantum Gravity
A theory recently proposed by the author aims to explain decoherence and the
thermodynamical behaviour of closed systems within a conservative, unitary,
framework for quantum gravity by assuming that the operators tied to the
gravitational degrees of freedom are unobservable and equating physical entropy
with matter-gravity entanglement entropy. Here we obtain preliminary results on
the extent of decoherence this theory predicts. We treat first a static state
which, if one were to ignore quantum gravitational effects, would be a quantum
superposition of two spatially displaced states of a single classically well
describable ball of uniform mass density in empty space. Estimating the quantum
gravitational effects on this system within a simple Newtonian approximation,
we obtain formulae which predict e.g. that as long as the mass of the ball is
considerably larger than the Planck mass, such a would-be-coherent static
superposition will actually be decohered whenever the separation of the centres
of mass of the two ball-states excedes a small fraction (which decreases as the
mass of the ball increases) of the ball radius. We then obtain a formula for
the quantum gravitational correction to the would-be-pure density matrix of a
non-relativistic many-body Schroedinger wave function and argue that this
formula predicts decoherence between configurations which differ (at least) in
the "relocation" of a cluster of particles of Planck mass. We estimate the
entropy of some simple model closed systems, finding a tendency for it to
increase with "matter-clumping" suggestive of a link with existing
phenomenological discussions of cosmological entropy increase.Comment: 11 pages, plain TeX, no figures. Accepted for publication as a
"Letter to the Editor" in "Classical and Quantum Gravity
Simulation of cell movement through evolving environment: a fictitious domain approach
A numerical method for simulating the movement of unicellular organisms which respond to chemical signals is presented. Cells are modelled as objects of finite size while the extracellular space is described by reaction-diffusion partial differential equations. This modular simulation allows the implementation of different models at the different scales encountered in cell biology and couples them in one single framework. The global computational cost is contained thanks to the use of the fictitious domain method for finite elements, allowing the efficient solve of partial differential equations in moving domains. Finally, a mixed formulation is adopted in order to better monitor the flux of chemicals, specifically at the interface between the cells and the extracellular domain
Theoretical dynamic analysis of the landing loads on a vehicle with a tricycle landing gear
Theoretical dynamic analysis of landing loads on vehicle with tricycle landing gear compared with X-15 aircraft dat
Brick Walls and AdS/CFT
We discuss the relationship between the bulk-boundary correspondence in
Rehren's algebraic holography (and in other 'fixed-background' approaches to
holography) and in mainstream 'Maldacena AdS/CFT'. Especially, we contrast the
understanding of black-hole entropy from the viewpoint of QFT in curved
spacetime -- in the framework of 't Hooft's 'brick wall' model -- with the
understanding based on Maldacena AdS/CFT. We show that the brick-wall
modification of a Klein Gordon field in the Hartle-Hawking-Israel state on
1+2-Schwarzschild AdS (BTZ) has a well-defined boundary limit with the same
temperature and entropy as the brick-wall-modified bulk theory. One of our main
purposes is to point out a close connection, for general AdS/CFT situations,
between the puzzle raised by Arnsdorf and Smolin regarding the relationship
between Rehren's algebraic holography and mainstream AdS/CFT and the puzzle
embodied in the 'correspondence principle' proposed by Mukohyama and Israel in
their work on the brick-wall approach to black hole entropy. Working on the
assumption that similar results will hold for bulk QFT other than the Klein
Gordon field and for Schwarzschild AdS in other dimensions, and recalling the
first author's proposed resolution to the Mukohyama-Israel puzzle based on his
'matter-gravity entanglement hypothesis', we argue that, in Maldacena AdS/CFT,
the algebra of the boundary CFT is isomorphic only to a proper subalgebra of
the bulk algebra, albeit (at non-zero temperature) the (GNS) Hilbert spaces of
bulk and boundary theories are still the 'same' -- the total bulk state being
pure, while the boundary state is mixed (thermal). We also argue from the
finiteness of its boundary (and hence, on our assumptions, also bulk) entropy
at finite temperature, that the Rehren dual of the Maldacena boundary CFT
cannot itself be a QFT and must, instead, presumably be something like a string
theory.Comment: 54 pages, 3 figures. Arguments strengthened in the light of B.S. Kay
`Instability of Enclosed Horizons' arXiv:1310.739
The lumbar spine has an intrinsic shape specific to each individual that remains a characteristic throughout flexion and extension
Peer reviewedPostprin
Lyapunov exponents as a dynamical indicator of a phase transition
We study analytically the behavior of the largest Lyapunov exponent
for a one-dimensional chain of coupled nonlinear oscillators, by
combining the transfer integral method and a Riemannian geometry approach. We
apply the results to a simple model, proposed for the DNA denaturation, which
emphasizes a first order-like or second order phase transition depending on the
ratio of two length scales: this is an excellent model to characterize
as a dynamical indicator close to a phase transition.Comment: 8 Pages, 3 Figure
Perfect Transfer of Arbitrary States in Quantum Spin Networks
We propose a class of qubit networks that admit perfect state transfer of any
two-dimensional quantum state in a fixed period of time. We further show that
such networks can distribute arbitrary entangled states between two distant
parties, and can, by using such systems in parallel, transmit the higher
dimensional systems states across the network. Unlike many other schemes for
quantum computation and communication, these networks do not require qubit
couplings to be switched on and off. When restricted to -qubit spin networks
of identical qubit couplings, we show that is the maximal perfect
communication distance for hypercube geometries. Moreover, if one allows fixed
but different couplings between the qubits then perfect state transfer can be
achieved over arbitrarily long distances in a linear chain. This paper expands
and extends the work done in PRL 92, 187902.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures with updated reference
'She's like a daughter to me': insights into care, work and kinship from rural Russia
This article draws on ethnographic research into a state-funded homecare service in rural Russia. The article discusses intersections between care, work and kinship in the relationships between homecare workers and their elderly wards and explores the ways in which references to kinship, as a means of authenticating paid care and explaining its emotional content, reinforce public and private oppositions while doing little to relieve the tensions and conflicts of care work. The discussion brings together detailed empirical insights into local ideologies and practices as a way of generating new theoretical perspectives, which will be of relevance beyond the particular context of study
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